SURGEON WARNS PEERS OF 'PRECIPICE'

A leading cancer surgeon has warned peers they would be "walking over a precipice" if they passed the Medical Innovation Bill, according to Lord Winston.

The Labour peer said it was important to heed breast cancer specialist Professor Michael Baum's advice and the rest of the "massive correspondence" he had received on the matter.

In debate on the Bill in the Lords, Lord Winston added: "When I first read this Bill I was really, deeply impressed ... it is a hugely welcome discussion.

"But when I think about the Bill more and more I have increasing misgiving."

He stressed he was not against innovation, having dedicated his 40-year career to it, including creating the finest micro-surgical needles, designing his own instruments and swinging a microscope over a patient's abdomen for the first time in the face of claims that it was risky because it could cause infection.

He said: "It [the Bill] is causing increasing concern amongst many practitioners. It is not quite as simple as was initially originally thought. I think that is something that we need to be very well aware of.

"The massive correspondence that I have received really is, I think, very concerning.

"Let me finally conclude by saying in the words of Michael Baum, who is one of the leading innovative surgeons in cancer in this country - his contribution to breast cancer is second to none - he says to me that in his view their lordships are walking over a precipice if they pass this Bill. I think we have to listen to that very carefully.

"Innovation undoubtedly has risks and really we have to understand that, and certainly if this Bill goes through to committee stage, and I hope it will, clearly we will need to look at it very carefully to make sure there are a number of amendments that are made to it."

Lord Winston said the Bill might increase the risk of litigation against doctors, something it is designed to reduce.

"I actually feel, sadly, in spite of what has been said ... litigation actually might increase as a result of this Bill because patients might decide they will litigate because a doctor has not actually tried innovation in an unusual circumstance," he said.